Patents by Inventor Lorraine Francis

Lorraine Francis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Synergistic toughening of epoxy modified by graphene and block copolymer
    Patent number: 11180651
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to compositions comprising (i) amphiphilic block copolymer, (ii) resin material; and amine modified graphene oxide; where the composition shows a synergic effect in critical strain energy release rate (Glc) value versus predicted value calculated by adding (i) the Glc value for neat resin material, plus (ii) the difference in Glc found when adding the amphiphilic block copolymer to the resin material versus the neat resin material, plus (iii) the difference in Glc found when adding the amine modified graphene oxide to the resin material versus the neat resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Frank S. Bates, Lorraine Francis, Tuoqi Li
  • SYNERGISTIC TOUGHENING OF EPOXY MODIFIED BY GRAPHENE AND BLOCK COPOLYMER
    Publication number: 20200190312
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to compositions comprising (i) amphiphilic block copolymer, (ii) resin material; and amine modified graphene oxide; where the composition shows a synergic effect in critical strain energy release rate (Glc) value versus predicted value calculated by adding (i) the Glc value for neat resin material, plus (ii) the difference in Glc found when adding the amphiphilic block copolymer to the resin material versus the neat resin material, plus (iii) the difference in Glc found when adding the amine modified graphene oxide to the resin material versus the neat resin material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Frank S. Bates, Lorraine Francis, Tuoqi Li
  • Silica support structure for a zeolite membrane
    Patent number: 10005674
    Abstract: A process for making a mechanically strong, high permeance, and relatively inexpensive support structure for zeolite membranes is described. In an example implementation, a process includes forming a silica powder from silica fibers, mixing the silica powder and a polymer solution to form a mixture, forming the mixture into a shaped mixture, and sintering the shaped mixture to form a silica support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Michael Tsapatsis, Kumar Varoon Agrawal, Lorraine Francis
  • SILICA SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR A ZEOLITE MEMBRANE
    Publication number: 20150376019
    Abstract: A process for making a mechanically strong, high permeance, and relatively inexpensive support structure for zeolite membranes is described. In an example implementation, a process includes forming a silica powder from silica fibers, mixing the silica powder and a polymer solution to form a mixture, forming the mixture into a shaped mixture, and sintering the shaped mixture to form a silica support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Tsapatsis, Kumar Varoon Agrawal, Lorraine Francis